Workin' Woman!

Dearest friends, family, and beloved readers,

It is my pleasure to announce that I am officially a workin' woman! I am so very excited about this, as it has been almost a year since I have been without a job. (For those of you whom don't know the whole story and are assuming that I have just been lazy for the past year, the marriage visa that I'm on  has not allowed me to work until now. So really, I had no choice. Haha!)

The last job I had was back in Canada at an amaaaazing creperie called Spin Dessert Cafe & Bistro.

There I was in the year of 2014, so excited to be at work.

Out of all my jobs---and I've had plenty, that one was definitely my favourite! I mean, working with food, spinning crepes, making waffles, and chopping up endless amounts of strawberries and chocolate, how could I not love it?! It also helps when you have awesome bosses and co-workers. ;)

Hopefully I'm not speaking too soon, but I have a feeling that my current job may be my new favourite! I work at a large Christian retreat center/resort called Sandy Cove, and my official job title is "Prep Cook". *eeee!*

There I am, wearing my new uniform! As you can see I love having photo evidence that I actually have a job.

When I received my Employment Authorization Document from U.S. immigration in the mail, I did a great deal of research online, through friends & family, newspapers, and compiled a list of all the jobs I wanted to apply to. Within that entire list, the number one job I wanted the most was indeed, the Prep Cook position at Sandy Cove.

So a week or two after submitting my application, cover letter, resume, ect., I received a phone call from Sandy Cove. I had an interview scheduled for exactly a week from that day. I hung up the phone and went back to whatever it was that I was doing and didn't think much more of it. Despite that being the job I desired, I wasn't as excited as you'd expect me to be. It was nothing against the job, it was just that a low confidence was beginning to settle deep inside of me.

I really think I would enjoy this job a lot, and because I want it so much I'm probably not going to get it. With my luck, I'm not going to make it past the first interview. They're going to reject me, and I'll end up working somewhere that I hate.

Sad, right? I'm just not the girl who gets the jobs she wants. A few years ago when I lived in Manitoba, I applied to an endless stream of jobs. After not getting a single phone call inviting me to an interview, I let go of my pride and applied to what I liked to call my "last resort job". Of course, they called me (because they're always desperate for workers). I had an interview with them (which I thought went terrifically!), and *GASP* they never called me back! Even after I'd keep seeing new "We're Hiring" signs up at the front of their building they wouldn't give me the time of day. I was shocked. Wow, not even my last resort job will hire me! What made it worse is that I went around telling people how great the interview went. Pfff.

So I do believe that that experience has something to do with my lack of self-esteem when it comes to employment. 

ANYWAY, as the days got closer and closer to the interview I remember telling my husband Jarryd, "I'm not very excited for this interview. Plus, we only have one vehicle, and I can only work certain hours, and I know employers prefer candidates with flexibility." Sigh, sigh, and more sighs.

Although I wasn't too enthusiastic about the whole thing, Jarryd gave me the fabulous idea of creating a portfolio of my best culinary creations so that the employers could see what I'm capable of.

I spent that entire Monday evening putting it together the best that I could, including photos of my best work, my academic report from culinary school, and a lengthy list of every dish I made at school. I was ready!

Just a taste of my portfolio. (It's several pages long!)

Jarryd, being the sweetheart that he is, drove me to my interview that Wednesday morning. As I was getting ready to get out of the car, stunned...I asked, "Where is it? Where's my portfolio...?"

Low and behold, I left it at home! Oh no! The one thing I had that is actually going to give me a chance at this job, I forgot to bring to the interview!

I was so frustrated as I sat in the waiting room. Just my luck, I thought. But as befuddled as I was, a peace from God came over me and just assured me that now if they do happen to hire me, it won't have anything to do with my portfolio. It will only have to do with my resume, and the actual person that is brought before them: Me! (Quite a profound thought).

My interview was with HR, and being that this was a Christian facility, every interview question revolved around my Faith and my relationship with God. It's harder than you'd think it to be! I found myself stammering with my words a few times and going off on verbal rabbit trails. All in all, it was a really enjoyable interview, and my interviewer was an incredibly sweet man. I remember him saying a few times "I am really happy with what I'm seeing on your resume! I'm so impressed"!

*Beaming* 

After all the questions were asked and the answers were given, he asked me one more question..."We don't normally do this, but if you have the time, would you like to proceed to your second interview...like right now?"

Um....a second interview? Already?! YES!

So there I went, to my second interview with Head of Guest Services. (Poor Jarryd had to wait in the car this whole time!) This interview consisted of practical questions more closely related to the actual position of Prep Cook, which is when I confessed that my availability isn't too flexible, and he assured me that they could totally work around that. *Phew*

On the car ride home, I indulged Jarryd in all of the details, when suddenly we were interrupted with my phone ringing. "Hello?"

"Hi Jennifer, this is HR from Sandy Cove. I heard that your second interview went really well, and we'd like to offer you the position!"

And that was that! In the span of less than 2 hours, I was employed with a job that relates to what I went to school for! Here is a lovely aerial photo of it:

Isn't it beautiful? It's right on the Chesapeake Bay!

I'm just so thankful to God that He blessed me with this job. After moving like a zillion times since high school, I am just ready to settle down, and I'm so happy that this, out of all jobs, could be my very first long-term job!

I just completed my first week there, and I LOVED it!

I get free meals every shift that I work (this will totally help out our grocery bill!), AND I can drink -free- coffee with the fun flavored creamers whenever I want, (so pretty much all day, everyday, let's be honest).

Every Thursday we have a meeting with all of the staff there (not just kitchen staff, but ALL of Sandy Cove staff), where the first half consists of announcements, and the second half we watch a sermon and pray together. Then we all eat lunch together (that I helped cook, by the way!). I'm very much loving that this is a social job.

But best of all, I am a COOK. I get to make delicious food and serve God and God's people with something that I enjoy doing.

Thanks everyone! :)

Love, Jenny